Dynavector Fairey Gannet AS-1 *FINISHED!*

[LorenSharp]

Entry #4(For now) 

Dynavector's 1/48 Fairy Gannet AS-1 Reputed to be one of the Ugliest aircraft ever envisioned by the mind of Man. Perhaps, we shall see.

But I did add the Airwaves P/E set so I can make this little gem look like a throwback to the Karate Kid.

This should keep me busy and out of trouble for a day of two. nahhhh who am I kidding...Now time for  awax on...awax off

[LorenSharp]

Finally I'm able to start on my final entry into this little GB.

Beginning with the Offices, Assembling all the kit parts, it looks a little thin , need to do something about that.

[LorenSharp]

So After using a short piece of brass tubing for a radar scope and bits of spare scrap plastic to make a table to work from, I gave everything a coat of AK Rubber Black. The seats got a coat of Tamiya Red Brown and 1mm kabuki tape for harness'.

Same for the Sonabouy operator

Then the pilots instrument panel.

That also got the Rubber black treatment followed by flat black then a white gel paint pen for the dials.

[LorenSharp]

I thought about adding cabling and whatnot but you won't be able to see anything once the fuselage is closed up. I'll save that for the wing folds and the landing gear.

I separated the rudder to add back later on. then gave the interior the same colour as the cockpit.

Next adding the bits to the interior half along with the single strengthening bulkhead and nose gear bay

Then on to sticking the fuselage halves together along with the exhaust bulges and the metal intake.

The instruction say no extra weight is needed, and I can believe it with all the metal so far in the front.

But there we are my progress so far. Now the fill the seams then begin working on the main gear bays and the wing folding mechanisms. Stay tuned for more  soon!

[CliffB]

I'm just catching up with this one.  It's particularly nice to see an old school multi-media kit being let out of its box 

[Ray S]

That is good progress on this one Loren.

 

I must admit that I have been thinking about doing a Dynavector vacform, I have heard nothing but good about them, and they had some very interesting types on offer. Maybe one day

 

Ray

[Colin W]

Excellent . Great to see another vacform and some proper modelling. I built this about 20 years ago and it still looks good. My wings are a bit flat so pay plenty of attention to getting the right dihedral on the outer panels. Im not sure if mine have drooped or whether I got them too low when I built it. I always put a good solid spar in mine so either might be the issue.

You're right about the nose weight, unless you use a white metal replacement rudder!

[Colin W]

5 minutes ago, Ray S said:

I have been thinking about doing a Dynavector vacform,

Only 2 things wrong with Dynavector. First their kits were upstaged; Javelin, Sea Vixen and TSR2 by Airfix and most of the others (Hornet and Wyvern) by Classic Airframes. Secondly they never did a Swift. The only 1/48 Swift is from Falcon and it's a lot of work.

[LorenSharp]

6 hours ago, CliffB said:

I'm just catching up with this one.  It's particularly nice to see an old school multi-media kit being let out of its box 

Thanks Cliff.

 

3 hours ago, Ray S said:

That is good progress on this one Loren.

 

I must admit that I have been thinking about doing a Dynavector vacform, I have heard nothing but good about them, and they had some very interesting types on offer. Maybe one day

 

Ray

They're great kits, especially if you haven't done a vac before. the detail is almost as good if not better than most if the plastic kits out there right now.

 

3 hours ago, Colin W said:

Excellent . Great to see another vacform and some proper modelling. I built this about 20 years ago and it still looks good. My wings are a bit flat so pay plenty of attention to getting the right dihedral on the outer panels. Im not sure if mine have drooped or whether I got them too low when I built it. I always put a good solid spar in mine so either might be the issue.

You're right about the nose weight, unless you use a white metal replacement rudder!

 

3 hours ago, Colin W said:

Only 2 things wrong with Dynavector. First their kits were upstaged; Javelin, Sea Vixen and TSR2 by Airfix and most of the others (Hornet and Wyvern) by Classic Airframes. Secondly they never did a Swift. The only 1/48 Swift is from Falcon and it's a lot of work.

Il'll keep that in mind when I get to the wings, Thanks Colin. I've got the old flacon swift in the statsh. I know what you mean. I keep looking at it, then I just put it back for another time. I wish they had produced more of the Scimitars SAnger Engineering has one but it's the old Contrail kit. So it like the Swift would require a lot of work. But then again thats the fun of a Vac!

[Ray S]

2 hours ago, LorenSharp said:

They're great kits, especially if you haven't done a vac before

 

I have done plenty of vacforms Loren, but they would be the biggest I would have attempted (although not the most complex - Aeroclub Felixstowe and Rareplanes Gotha GIV). The one I really want to do is the flying flatiron/tin triangle/Javelin, despite knowing that Airfix do one. I have never been put off by easier alternatives being available.

 

Anyway, I am really looking forward to seeing how you get on with your subject,

 

Ray

[LorenSharp]

Thanks Ray. I've almost got the bench cleaned off,(shocking I know) so I can begin working on the wings and the folding system. I have the Dynavector Javelin on my finally dwindling box shelf. it's my last Dynavector kit  I get it built one of these years.

[Colin W]

The Javein is a great kit but the cockpit is more like 1/72. The sides of the tub need building up and some larger / better seats fitting otherwise its great. I converted mine to a Mk5 with a pen nib fairing between the engines. Memories of fitting all those PE vortex generators still keep me awake at night!

We'd better let you get on with your Gannet now..

[LorenSharp]

But it Does give me food for thought for the future when I do get around to it.. Many Thanks Colin.

[heloman1]

Looking good...

 

Colin

[LorenSharp]

Pressing on, I found something quite by accident that works surprisingly well. For the wing bracing where the wing attaches to the fuselage, I cut the ends off of a couple of plastic spoons. The taper works just right without any trimming.

Now for the fun part. .... The wings.

Separating into the individual 3 pieces for folding.

 

[LorenSharp]

Next instead of using the kit wheel wells I did a quick and dirty 3d build and printed out a better set.

Then used some electrical wire strands and a bit of solder to give some additional detail.

[LorenSharp]

Starting back at the tail I separated the tail surfaces, and made new tabs and cut some plastic square rod for attachment pins.

Then followed the same with the rudder.

Once those were dry I masked off and began the filler sequence.

 

 

[LorenSharp]

The inner portion of the wings went slightly awry. The Airwaves instructions would have you put the P/E directly on the ends. But all the references I had show that there is a slight lip, so thats what I did.  But that changed the thickness of the wing some. So I went and thinned the plastic as much as possible then glued the halves together, there was still a slight gap. I filled that with some MIlliput and let that dry overnight

I don't know if I was supposed to separate the two halves of the P/E, but that makes building the wing easier.

Once dried I sanded everything down and applied filler to smooth everything out and attached the windscreen and center canopy section, I'll let these set overnight, Tomorrow I'll finish assembling the other two sections of wing and begin the painting process.  Slow but sure , it is finally coming together.

 

 

[Ray S]

Good progress Loren! I loved the 'spoon' idea earlier

 

Ray

[Thom216]

Coming together real nice!

[Magpie22]

Coming along nicely Loren! And you reckoned I was brave tackling a wing fold! At least I only have one fold on each side, not two.

 

Agree with Colin's comments. His Gannet is a work of art: I got to see it on a trip to BKK many years ago. I've managed to do the Dynavector, Javelin, Gannett, Sea Hornet and TSR-2, only to see them upstaged by Airfix - not sure the CA kits rate as much of an improvement. Still have the Sea Vixen sitting there unmade. The Falcon Sea Hawk, Attacker and Swift all build into nice models, albeit, as Colin says, with a fair bit of work. IMHO first two are better than their Injection moulded usurpers. Will post a couple of photos in the gallery.

 

Hint - reinforce the folds with stiff wire - easily concealed and stops the outer panels from breaking off or sagging.

 

Cheers,

Peter M

[LorenSharp]

Thanks Peter I'm just about to THAT stage.

[LorenSharp]

Speaking of wings, lets see how I progressed with the two outer panels.

I should have caught this sooner. I belatedly cut out for the landing lights. I boxed it in with some verythin card and the used a stick on jewel for the lens. I i'm waiting on the clear cover to dry from a coat of Kleer then I can add those.

I did finish the upper and lower painting on the wings though.

[LorenSharp]

Then finished up the painting the fuselage along with adding  some printed scoops, the tail fillets, exhaust chutes, and the prop hub.

Then I gave the whole shootin match a coat of clear gloss. I'm going to add the decals and landing gear before finishing up with the wingfolds. I'm taking  @Magpie22's suggestion of using wire. I've got to scrounge around for some stiff thin wire to support the wings while folded I've got some, just have to remember where I put it. Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most. Pardon me whist I go a foraging in the  deepest, darkest, sections of my stash. Be back shorlt, if you don;t hear from me in a day or so, send in the Marines.

[heloman1]

Ooooh! Some colour, looking good...

 

Colin